UK Drive: The Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake is a high-tech, efficient and capable family wagon

Estate cars have become an overshadowed sector next to their jacked-up SUV alternatives.

Mercedes, however, thinks differently and is continuing to buck that trend with a family-friendly variant of the new CLA saloon.

As with its other estates, it gets the name Shooting Brake. More than just a car with more space, Mercedes pitches them with poise and balance despite their size. But does this model still have curb appeal, or has the SUV market really dented the estate car’s appeal? Let’s find out.

The most important thing to know is that this CLA Shooting Brake is the first Mercedes estate to be available with an electric powertrain.

The powertrain itself is the same setup you’ll find in the standard CLA saloon, which means it boasts an 800-volt electrical architecture for ultra-rapid charging speeds and it sits on Mercedes’ ‘MMA’ platform.

Thanks to its taller proportions, the Shooting Brake provides more interior space and a larger, more usable boot capacity to make it much more family-oriented.

A selection of hybrid powertrains will be available later down the line, while the interior uses the same bang-up-to-date MBUX infotainment system from Microsoft and Google to deliver a much more engaging user experience.

The CLA Shooting Brake will be initially sold with electric power and that’s what our test car is fitted with.

It features an 85.5kWh battery pack with a front- and rear-mounted electric motor to make all-wheel drive, 344bhp and 515Nm of torque.

It can sprint to 60mph in just 4.8 seconds and will top-out at 130mph, making this family wagon more than quick enough for everyday driving.

The standard on-board 800-volt electric architecture means that the car has a claimed range of up to 418 miles and can be topped up at speeds of 320kW, allowing for a 10 to 80 per cent charge to be completed in 22 minutes.

Later down the line, Mercedes will introduce cheaper, fuel-efficient hybrid variants of the CLA, broadening its appeal further.

What’s it like to drive?

The Shooting Brake delivers an impressive overall driving experience thanks to its handling setup.

On a twisty road, the CLA’s steering is nicely weighted; has a good turn in and has a dynamic composure.

We were impressed with its ride comfort, as the suspension takes everything in its stride without getting agitated over potholes or crevices in the road, which is thanks to its multi-link rear suspension.

We’re driving the ‘350’ model, which has dual electric motors with all-wheel drive and you can tell due to its rapid acceleration and it feels more planted on the road.

What lets the car down is with visibility as the letter box-style rear window impairs your view when reversing but thankfully the car’s standard rear view camera helps out here.

Mercedes is heavily focusing on making its cars as streamlined as possible. To compensate, the design of the CLA Shooting Brake isn’t the most stylish of estates, though it’s not offensive to the eye either.

Just like with the saloon variant, the car adopts the firm’s star-shaped headlight design with star-studded front grille. The star theme continues onto the taillights which form part of the LED single lightbar that runs across the tailgate.

Sadly, the rear end is let down by a false diffuser and exhaust tips, despite our test car equipped with an electric powertrain. These design details make the appearance look cheap and look more style over substance.

The Shooting Brake’s cabin is identical to the standard saloon, which means it’s dominated by screens and the Mercedes three-pointed star emblem.

First impressions are that the interior feels modern, and that is thanks to our test car being fitted with Mercedes’ ‘MBUX Superscreen’ which includes a 14-inch central infotainment display, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14-inch passenger display screen.

The infotainment system is slick and the graphics are crisp, though we found that the front passenger screen can be difficult to operate when you’re on the move, if you’re a front-seat occupant.

In terms of quality, it’s disappointing to find lots of hard, scratchy plastics lower down, though we can forgive it for its soft-touch dashboard and door cards.

Storage isn’t too bad with a hidden compartment under the floating centre console, cupholders, a central armrest cubby hole and a glove compartment, which is on the small side.

Space in the back is average as there is plenty of rear legroom, however the high floor means the seating position is uncomfortable and you can’t slide your feet under the front seats. Headroom is also at a premium if you go for a car with the fixed panoramic sunroof, like on our test vehicle.

The Shooting Brake offers up to 455 litres of boot space and 1,290 litres with the rear seats folded down. That’s off the pace of the BMW 3 Series Touring’s 500-litre capacity in PHEV guise, yet it’s more than an Audi A5 Avant PHEV’s 361-litre space.

The Mercedes’ flexibility is boasted by the class-leading 101-litre frunk, which makes the CLA much more usable compared to its rivals.

The CLA Shooting Brake is not a cheap car, with the entry-level model coming in at £47,750, which is £3,150 more than a BMW 3 Series Touring with a plug-in hybrid setup.

Mercedes will offer the CLA Shooting Brake in five different guises: Sport, Sport Executive, AMG Line Executive, AMG Line Premium and AMG Line Premium Plus.

We’re driving the flagship 350 AMG Line Premium Plus – coming in at a steep £58,915 – but it does come with lots of extras including a Burmester 3D surround sound system, a head-up display, the MBUX Superscreen, a fixed glass panoramic roof and interior ambient lighting.

However, you’ll have to pay an additional £850 if you want a 400-volt charging converter to enable the vehicle to be topped up at slower DC rapid chargers, which we think is a bit mean.

Verdict

It’s refreshing to see a car manufacturer launch an electric estate in a world overcrowded by SUVs.

The CLA Shooting Brake is not perfect due to its high prices, questionable interior plastics and cramped rear seats.

What we do like is how it delivers its power. It also provides an engaging yet comfortable driving experience and with its 800-volt architecture, it can deliver an impressive electric range while being topped up in a short space of time, making it much more practical for families.

The electric estate market is niche, though Mercedes is setting the bar high with the CLA Shooting Brake.

• Model as tested: Mercedes CLA 350 Electric Shooting Brake AMG Line Premium Plus 85.5kWh
• Price as tested: £58,915
• Engine: 85.5kWh battery with dual electric motors
• Power: 344bhp
• Torque: 515Nm
• 0-60mph: 4.8 seconds
• Top speed: 130mph
• MPG: N/A
• CO2 emissions: 0g/km
• Electric range: 418 miles
• Maximum charging speed: 320kW